Vehicle-wheel.



H. B. COATS.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1. I916.

1,266,8 Patented Ma 1918.

5 SHEETS EET I.

H. B. COATS.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1, m a.

Patented May 14, 1918.

5 SHEETSSHEET 2 IIVVE/V 70H HE/we/ 6 (8 rs ATTOREYS H. B. COATS.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1. ms.

Patented May 14,1918.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3.

Ill/VE/I/TOR h E/Y V/ 5. (para Patented May 14, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

H. B. COATS.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1. I916. 1,266,400

H. B. COATS.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1. I916.

1,266,Q& Patented May 14, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

To all whom it may concern re'rnn'r FFTCE.

HENRY B. COATS, OF VEEDERSB'URG, INDIAN A.

vnnrcnn-wnnnn Y Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented-May 14, 1918.

Application filed. September 7, 1916. Serial No. 118,856.

Be it known that I, HENRY 3. Come, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Veedersburg, county of Fountain, and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Vehicle-Wheel; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters refer to like parts.

The object of this invention is to provide a practical and eflicient cushioned vehicle wheel capable of having a solid rim which will not be-injured by punctures that render the ordinary pneumatic'tired wheels so objectionable. Efforts have been made by many to solve this difficult problem but with- I out complete success, because, usually, there is suificient'resiliency or responsiveness in wheels having pneumatic cushions therein located away from the tire so as to be punctured. One trouble has been insu'ch devices that there was not sufficient air-under com-' pression in the pneumatic cushions to aflord the desired resiliency and attain the desired responsiveness. I

One feature'of this invention consists in pro\- iiling pneumatic cushions which extend practically the entire distance from the hub to the rim. Preferably there is a cushion between each pair'of spokes and extending forthe full distance between said spokes and i ings and following for the full distance between the hub and the tire, and having as great thickness as is practicalin a vehicle wheel. This gives to pneumatic'cushions in vehicle tires located away from the rim, so as to be punctureless, the greatest possiblejcapacity.

The foregoing and other features of this invention and the advantages thereof will be understood from the accompanying drawdescription'an'd claims. In'drawings Flgure lis aside elevation of thevehicle wheel'with a portion thereof in'section. Fig. 2 is'a transverse section through a portion of saidwheel on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through a portion of said wheel on line 3-3 of Fig; 1. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of said wheel with the side plate," rim, tire, and pneumatic cushion omitted, and a portion thereof being insection. Fig. 5-is a plan viewof Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is asection through a spoke on line 6- 6 of Fig. 4'. Fig. 7 is an elevation of the pneumatic cushion. Fig. 8

is a side elevation of a modified form of ve hicle wheel with a portion thereof broken away. Fig. line 9-9 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a section similar to the upper portion of Fig. 9, but showing a modified form. Fig. 11, is a central vertical cross section through the air valve passage. I

There is shown herein a wheel having a hub 10, short spokes 11, which do not extend to the rim 12, a detachable rim 112 and a solid rubber tire 13. The parts 10, 11, 12 and 112 are preferably made of metal. These parts form two members or portions of thewheel, that-may be called the hub portion and the rim portion, and they are maintained in their relation to each other by a number of pneumatic cushions 15 interposed between the two members and between the spokes of the hub members, as seen in Fig. 1. Each pneumatic cushion extends for the full distance from the hub to the rim and from one spoke to thenext. There is sufficient space between the ends of the spokes and the rim to permit ample vibratory. movement between the hub member and rim member of the wheel while the wheel is in use, and without any danger of these two members of the Wheel coming in contact.

with each other, so that the hub member floats always within the rim member and the rim member is always yieldingly sup ported on the hub member, by said pneumatic cushions.

Each pneumatic cushion 15 may be said to have two portions or parts, one tapering portion which fits between the spokes and another, a segmental portion, which lies adjacent the rim and extending circumferentially from the end of one spoke to the end of the next spoke. The inner 0r tapering portion of each pneumatic cushion needs no covering "or outer casing, but lies immediately against the spokes. This is possible because the inner surfaces of the spokes are concave in cross section as shown in Fig. 6 so as to furnish a smooth seat or recess for the cushion. But a covering or protection. between said end of the "cushion and the spokes may be provided if desired.

"The outer or segmental portion-of the cushion is largely covered and protected by an outer casing 17 ,made of the same material substantially as is used in making outer casings for the ordinary pneumatic tires.

9 is a transverse section on a- These outer casings: 17 are rather peculiar in shape, being shaped somewhatlike-'a-liifleof a chain so as to lit in the clencher rims.

18, which are shown in Fig. 5. Said""0uter casings therefore consist of. only end and sid 'portions, "the end portions lying 'be tween the ends of the spokesand the;

clencher rims 18, secured thereto, and the tire" andflthe cleiicher'irims- 19 "thereon, as is cleai lyishown in Figt'l; Tlie; sides of said. outer lcasinguextend between the ends shown I in Figviradjacent the ends of two spokes-. Theseside portions are showncin elevation" byj'full lines in Fig. 1. The "outer casings217 areprovided with a -bead along the inneredge to fit in the clencher rims-'18 'on the.

{ends of 'thewspokes and. a bead: al'ongzsthe outer edge: to ifitrin' the clenche-r rims .19 of the rim 12 of the wheel; This. efiectua'l-ly hblds the cushion inplace and .ll'l" connection with the T-tWO" other members; of=:the. Wheel, The outer surface of I each pneumatic cush ion lies against the-inner surface 10% {the rim 12; unless it j be desired to'have' some 'protec tiorrbetween them, althoughnone is needed;

Packingl20 'isasecured to each clencher 18 Wh'ere" it turns theficorner on the endwof'f the spoke for the "purpose; ofprofx'ecting;:the:v pneumatic cushi0nl'151: fromsuch-'- sharp;

corner: x In. otln-zrwords, the end 1 of? each spoke is Wrappedmnound a suitable-www.-

ping 20 to form ithis "packing;- The icushions' are supp'liedvvith compressed air through; air chamber 22 secured toathe hub: 'andzrthis preferably is a singleemeans forisupplying'r air toall "of thecush'ions so that 'theairpres sure: in'.-them=wil1"be unilformi v SidevpIates 23 are-i secured to the .spokesib-y bolts, 24; and extendfrom ztheihubeto the OLItGIRPOItlOIlof the pneumatic: cushions as seen, in Fig, 2; the: outer part 'ofe'ach-platebeing curved ito fit;

snugly against the clencher rims;'=18-;:-. v

In' a-modified forni shownain l igs. sand 9gwthe 'outer='casing. 25, is' 'providedw 01811: tirely: covering all parts of ithe ,5 Outer: ;p'or-- tion of the pneumatic cushion: and lying-cube tW6II "SL-ld' tl1Sl11O I1'LIlCl the rim, and also protecting the cushionfron the corners ofthe clencher: rims '18;

he modified: 61m shown: a Fig--10 Widens the: Wheel so as to" enable iti to use. v a plurality 'of s'olid rubber tires 26.;as'shoWnto?increaseethe.traction:

From 'the foregoing!) description it is r-.evident: that the? pneumatic cushions herein; have-"ample capacity-for suifiiently yielding;

under. a rload airdayielding very quieklyiso as to be sufiicientl-y responsiverand' therehyaren-= fit snugly against the spokes and rim so that there is iiochancefar them to escape or have needless play or movement.

"'Tlidair chamber 22 is provided With an air valve 28 as seen in Fig. 2 for use in charging" the air chamber and ai-iz cushioiis and -itwillvpreventwthe escape of any air therefrom. Tube 29 leads from said an chamber 22 to each;cushion,Iand Fthere.isv a' positive needle: valve 30 for gCQIltIOlllng ,the

passage; of? air -i-throug h pipeo 2l l ifllhep passages 29. to; all of athe airmcushionsgare open: Whilechanging the cushions. Whenw they are charged; itfis better :to close. valves-.-

30 so that each; oushion Will-1 beindependent of each otherand' iyetbof v:u niiiomn PlI QSSU-EG-T- Therefore; f it one I aim v:cus-hion should lea kqoi;

break;v the 5 other cushion; zwouldnremain i-hs Hated and the wheeLoouldbe operategl until a suitable repair iplaceaeould bereach'ed,, At intervals, sayoncea day .or oncerev er yv three, day's -the-p'ress1-1re-,in.- these; cushions; may The made uniform by opening;all--ofsthe;needle valves 30rit'or q a; minute or twoand the r the valves may be+closed=a The ,invention; claiined.-;is:

l. A- t ehicle-wwheel including 531: zrim f a hub I with; spokes radiating theref-rom but not extending .to, the: rim ar," pneumatic cushion fiIli-ng the space between each pairof spokes and w extending t0- the' rim; and flexible '"meansj securedigtog the ends 01%;, the spokes foniholding a;-.pontion:o each. cushion which extends beyond the spokestothe-rim. v

i 2. 2A. rVF6h1lC162 Wheel;includingeat rima, a hub and; spokes radiating qthereiromr but vnot ex: tending-lo the rim; the ipnemsunfaee oi said 7 spokeswbeing concave-:5 pneumaticacushions l.

concave surfaces thereof anda"extendi lggbe,-' yond the'i ae'ndsiof. the spokes toz the rim andiflexiblermeans -secu-redeto tlre gends ofa the spokes for holding place tge g'portionof; each cushion-1extending r-beyon OfithfijSPiOkBS--"f '1 a s i 3. A vehicle whee 4 v v clench-ing mean's orr-itrhei innerfsurfaeei iBre- Qua h-uban'd radiating,spck sswh chi nmo extendtoithevrim a clenching plateqsecusredf to the% endseofzeachf'pailf; of: and v ex-g tendingisegmentallyg between .themrand dip pneumaticv cushion lying; im the spaee ;.,be

' the l ds.-

11o eluding-a rim having" tween eachspair of spokes?andextending hee- I ing surroimdingi tlier uterapbrtion; of: each cushion andrsecuredito zaseleneher platel t 1 4.1 A. zvehiclerwheel includ n and-spokes whic tdo not .e tendvtefthegrim av: 'neumatiic .c 'shion: between aehs p irwisp kesfiand-f extending beyond; the; same o the vri'i'n; outer 'casingmsurroundi outer! P01111015}? of F ither mlshlon nclenching 1 k means secured to the outer ends of the spokes for holding said outer casing in place, and means covering the portion of the clenching means adjacent to the end of each spoke for protecting the pneumatic cushion from wear.

5. A vehicle wheel including a rim, a hub and spokes radiating therefrom but not extending to the rim, pneumatic cushions between each pair of spokes and extending be yond the ends of the spokes to the rim, and flexible means secured to the ends of the spokes and rim for holding in place the portion of each cushion extending beyond the ends of the spokes, andside plates secured to the spokes and extending to the ends thereof and having peripheral flanges over lapping the clenching means secured to the ends of the spokes.

6. A vehicle wheel including a rim, a

hub and radiating spokes which do not ex-' tend to the rim, clenching means secured to the outer ends of the spokes and extending between said spokes, a series of pneumatic cushions between the rim and spokes, each Copies of this patent may be obtained for cushion extended to fill the space between the adjacent pair of spokes, and an outer casing secured to the clenching means on the spokes for surrounding and protecting the outer portion of each cushion, the ends of said -outer casings abutting successively against each other.

7. In a vehicle wheel having a hub and radiating spokes extending therefrom, clenching means secured to the outer ends of the spokes and extending between said spokes, a series of pneumatic cushions adapted to extend to fill the space between the adjacent pair of spokes, and outer casings secured to the clenching means on the spokes for surrounding and protecting the outer portion of each cushion, the ends of said outer casings abutting successively against each other.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

HENRY B. COATS.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of intents, Washington, D. G." 

